The Milwaukee Brewers hot start to the 2023 season has them poised to be contenders and buyers at this year’s trade deadline. 97 miles southward the opposite can be said for the Chicago White Sox. To begin the season the White Sox are 7-20 and there is very little hope that things will turn around. This could lead to a fire sale of their core players and upcoming free agents.
If White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf elects to proceed with a rebuild, there will be a number of players available through trade. Southside Showdown’s writer Andrew Falkner laid out four players who should be traded in the event of a fire sale. There also are a few other players in the final year of their contract who could be considered as well.
Here are nine players that the Chicago White Sox could consider trading in the event of a fire sale. Their 2024 contract status and salary is listed after their name.
- Tim Anderson – $14MM club option
- Eloy Jimenz – Owed $13.83MM
- Yasmani Grandal – Free agent
- Lucas Giolito – Free agent
- Lance Lynn – $18MM club option
- Joe Kelly – $9.5MM club option
- Reynaldo Lopez – Free agent
- Elvis Andrus – Free agent
- Keynan Middleton – Free agent
Which of these Chicago White Sox trade candidates should the Milwaukee Brewers target?
From a pitching standpoint, starters on the list are Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn. Both are making a good chunk of change this season, but by the time the trade deadline comes around the Brewers would be responsible for just a fraction of their cost. If Milwaukee is in need of another starting pitcher come July either Giolito or Lynn would be worth looking into given that they both are rentals.
In regards to relievers, right-handers Joe Kelly and Keynan Middleton have seen the most high leverage situations throughout their careers. This does include intermittent save opportunities. Renaldo Lopez, a former starting pitcher, has operated as the closer this year and his fastball is not only averaging 99 MPH but he is generating a lot of strikeouts as well. Any of these three could potentially benefit from a change in scenery.
Offensively, the Brewers outfield is currently banged up so Eloy Jimenz could potentially make some sense. He’s best utilized as a designated hitter, which is Jesse Winker’s primary position, but Jimenz is serviceable in the corner outfield spots. The health of their young prospects may play a role in targeting Jimenz or not. He would be under contract for the 2024 season as well.
It will be interesting to see if the Chicago White Sox elect to trade away core their players and rebuild. With how poor they have performed to begin the season this could realistically start at any time.
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